“ With her blonde hair and blue eyes, she didn’t look like me, but I dreamed of emulating her all the same. ”
Cheryl Williams Fryer & Associates Markham
98
Today, as I practice family law, I am confident and tenacious. I dreamed of becoming a lawyer in my teens, inspired by the lawyers I saw on television. However, as an immigrant, woman of colour — except on the Cosby Show — they didn’t look like me. As an adult, facing actual or perceived obstacles, I became a legal assistant instead. I worked for a lawyer who was intelligent and confident, but unlike most lawyers on television, she was also kind and socially-conscious. With her blonde hair and blue eyes, she didn’t look like me, but I dreamed of emulating her all the same. She encouraged me to follow my dream, while still keeping my young children a priority. Two years after meeting her, I was accepted into Osgoode Hall Law School. She celebrated my graduation with my family and me. Nineteen years after meeting her, I sat in my first Masters in Law (ADR) class and unexpectedly, she was the guest lecturer. We both cried tears of joy! At that moment, I realized my life had come full circle, and I had followed the path that was meant for me. Today, I endeavour to pass on similar compassion and encourage clients, staff, future lawyers, and others to conquer their fears and make changes in their lives, regardless of obstacles.